Hamas Demands Biden’s Truce Amid Israeli Advance

AFP/APP

Gaza Strip: Hamas on Sunday urged Gaza mediators to implement a truce plan presented by U.S. President Joe Biden, instead of holding further talks, as Palestinians fled a new Israeli military operation. This statement from the Palestinian group followed one of the deadliest reported Israeli strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip in over 10 months of conflict.

International mediators had invited Israel and Hamas to resume discussions toward a long-sought truce and hostage-release deal. Israel, whose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of prolonging the war for political gain, has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar, and Egypt for a round of talks scheduled for Thursday.

Hamas stated that it wanted the implementation of the truce plan outlined by Biden on May 31 and later endorsed by the UN Security Council, “rather than engaging in additional negotiation rounds or new proposals.”

Hamas “demands that the mediators present a plan to implement what they proposed to the movement based on Biden’s vision and the UN Security Council resolution, and compel the (Israeli) occupation to comply,” the group said.

Biden’s plan, unveiled on May 31, was described as a three-phase “roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages” and was presented as an Israeli proposal. Mediation efforts since then have yet to produce an agreement